ABSTRACT
Knowing the health and nutritional status of older adults is crucial to helping them live healthier lives and limiting the need for pharmaceuticals and complicated medical procedures. The objective of this research was to analyze the eating habits (EH), physical activity (PA), and sleep quality (SQ) of older adults in the rural parish of San José de Minas in Quito, Ecuador. Three validated questionnaires were used: the Pittsburgh PSQI for SQ, IPAQ for PA, and frequency of consumption for EH. The results revealed high consumption of refined flours and sugar (70% at least once a day), low intake of whole grains, fish, and olive oil, and considerable consumption of fruits and water. Fifty percent of respondents engage in moderate physical activity and 24% in low physical activity, while 90% of older adults have poor sleep quality. These results indicate a problem in the integral health of the population that does not allow older adults to have a good old age. Health campaigns should be developed to increase physical activity, encourage a better diet, and thus, improve the quality of sleep.
Subject(s)
Diet , Health Status , Animals , Ecuador , Surveys and Questionnaires , Feeding BehaviorABSTRACT
Introduction: Eating habits and physical activity are fundamental factors that influence society's health, today all over the world there are obesity and overweight problems, precisely due to the lack of physical exercise and poor dietary regime of people. Due to this reason, it is essential to carry out studies to identify these types of problems and carry out health prevention programs. Objective: The objective of this research was to evaluate the eating habits (EH) and physical activity (PA) of the students of the Universidad Iberoamericana del Ecuador. Methods: This study was carried out with 50% of university students; they were divided into two groups (G1-G2) according to the number of students enrolled for each degree. A validated questionnaire (consisting of 3 sections for EH and 1 section for PA) was used. The results were evaluated with descriptive statistics for the interpretation of the questionnaire. To analyze whether there was a significant difference between G1 and G2 results, the Student's t-test was performed with a level of statistical significance of p < 0.05. Results: According to the instrument used, 72.6% of low consumption of adequate foods (fruits, vegetables, white yogurt, etc.), 54.3% of high consumption of inappropriate foods (sausages, snacks, sugary drinks, etc.), and 76.4% of adequate eating behavior (company, place and time of consumption) were obtained. In general, the students' EH is partially inadequate (70.2%) and predominates the inadequate PA (60.6%). There were no significant differences between G1 and G2, except for eating behavior, with a higher average for G2 than G1. Conclusions: There is a problem with eating habits and physical activity in UNIB.E students; the results obtained can be assumed for other higher education institutions in Ecuador. It is vitally important that public and private authorities generate prevention awareness campaigns for proper nutrition and health to avoid future diseases. (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Feeding Behavior , Motor Activity , Ecuador , Students , Universities , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
COVID-19 has managed to paralyze the world for months, this paralysis has caused great changes in the habits, customs and routines of all people. Although science is directed to getting a vaccine to return to normality, these changes may remain in the population. For this reason, it is essential to identify them and observe what has improved or worsened. The IPAQ questionnaire (international physical activity questionnaire) was used to analyze physical activity and regarding food consumption a questionnaire on eating habits. These were applied in a representative sample of adults between 18 and 65 years old in the city of Quito (n: 1022) to collect information before and during the forced quarantine in the city. These data were analyzed and compared along with daily routines and demographic variables of age, education and income. Our working hypothesis was that enforced quarantine would have a significant impact on daily activities, including waking time, mealtimes, physical activity, and eating habits. Waking time went from 5 to 6 to 8-9 in the morning and the breakfast and lunch times changed. The physical activity of the entire population decreased while men proved to be more active than women before and during the health emergency. Our findings suggested that eating habits improved overall during the quarantine period; however, we found that a higher percentage of women reported very healthy eating habits compared to men. People from 18 to 41 years old, with a university education, regardless of their income, decreased their physical activity during quarantine, people with incomes of up to $ 400 per month changed their eating habits to unhealthy since the emergency began. The population in the city of Quito varied their daily routine of physical activity and their eating habits, this suggests that it should be analyzed what measures should be implemented to continue with what has been improved and change what has worsened, and thus avoid public health problems in the future.
ABSTRACT
Introducción: La evaluación del estado nutricional y los patrones de crecimiento en adolescentes ayudan a vislumbrar los hábitos alimenticios y la calidad de vida que ellos llevan. El estándar de peso y estatura en Ecuador para este grupo etario no ha sido bien establecido todavía, por lo que resulta beneficioso evidenciar la información recogida en estudios recientes como el presente. Objetivo: Determinar a través de indicadores nutricionales y medidas antropométricas el estado nutricional de adolescentes de la zona andina central de Ecuador. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio mixto de tipo intencional y corte transversal en diciembre de 2017 en una muestra de 238 hombres y 194 mujeres de 13 a 17 años de edad, pertenecientes a cuatro unidades educativas de la zona andina central de Ecuador. La muestra se estratificó según la edad y el sexo de los sujetos. Los indicadores utilizados fueron: índice de masa corporal (IMC) y talla para la edad. Los datos fueron convertidos a puntuaciones z y analizados. Resultados: En IMC para la edad la prevalencia de riesgo de sobrepeso llega hasta el 30% en ambos grupos, mujeres y hombres. En las categorías de obesidad, emaciados y severamente emaciados los resultados llegan máximo al 10%. Con respecto a talla para la edad, existe un porcentaje mínimo de adolescentes que presenta baja talla, el cual no sobrepasa el 13% en los dos grupos. En baja talla severa se encontró únicamente un 3% en el grupo de mujeres de 17 años. Adicionalmente, se debe resaltar que en ambos grupos se mostró por lo general una tendencia hacia la categoría normal en los indicadores nutricionales. Conclusiones: A pesar de que la gran mayoría de los grupos observados se ubica en un estado nutricional normal, el presente estudio refleja documentadamente la realidad nacional de la doble carga de malnutrición: al coexistir casos de emaciación junto con otros con riesgo de sobrepeso, sobrepeso y obesidad. Resulta necesario tomar acciones que busquen la formación de hábitos alimenticios saludables desde edades tempranas para asegurar un óptimo desarrollo físico y un desempeño escolar adecuado
Introduction: The evaluation of the nutritional status and growth patterns in adolescents help to glimpse the eating habits and the quality of life that they lead. The standard of weight and height in Ecuador for this age group has not been well established yet, so it is useful to show the information collected in recent studies such as the present one. Objective: To determine, through nutritional indicators and anthropometric measures, the nutritional status of adolescents in a central Andean region of Ecuador. Methods: A mixed study of intentional and cross-sectional type was carried out in December 2017 in a sample of 238 men and 194 women from 13 to 17 years old, belonging to four Educational Centers in a central Andean area of Ecuador. The sample was stratified according to the age and sex. The indicators used were: body mass index (BMI) and height for age. The data were converted to z-scores and analyzed. Results: In BMI for age, the prevalence of risk of overweight reaches up to 30% in both groups women and men. In the categories obesity, emaciated and severely emaciated, the results reached a maximum of 10% in each group. In height for age, there is a minimum percentage of adolescents who have low height, which does not exceed 13% in the two groups. In severe short stature, only 3% were found in the group of 17-year-old women. In addition, it should be noted that in both groups there was generally a tendency toward the normal category in the nutritional indicators. Conclusions: Despite the fact that the vast majority of the observed groups is in a normal nutritional state, the present study documented the national reality of the double burden of malnutrition: the coexistence of emaciation cases together with risk of overweight, overweight and obesity cases. It is necessary to take actions that involve healthy eating habits from an early age to ensure optimal physical development and adequate school performance
